Houston Wrongful Death Attorneys Helping Clients Recover After Tragedy Throughout Texas

Accidents of all types happen every day around the world. While some accidents do not end up harming anyone involved, other accidents can impact a victim for a long time. Unfortunately, there are times when accidents end in someone’s death. For the surviving spouse or surviving family members of the deceased, dealing with the aftermath of a death following an accident can be incredibly burdensome. A death can ripple through both close family members and distant relatives. Death brings plenty of complications and worries. In the immediate aftermath, sadness, shock, and even anger may make it difficult for you to cope with a new reality. There are often unanswered questions that may linger in your mind following your loved one’s death. How will I pay for funeral costs? Will my family be okay? Why did this happen to my loved one?

Although it may be hard to look at the bright side soon after the death of your loved one, there are ways to alleviate the stress that comes with a tragic loss like that. If your loved one died in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to seek monetary compensation for their death. You may be able to file a wrongful death claim with the help of a Houston wrongful death attorney. Wrongful death victims may be left with plenty of emotional and financial burdens that they undeservingly must pay the price for. Filing a wrongful death claim can get you compensation for any damages you have suffered because of your loved one’s death. Contact one of our Houston wrongful death lawyers today to help get back your peace of mind.

What Qualifies as Wrongful Death?

Not every type of accident that ends up in death can be eligible for a wrongful death claim. In general, a wrongful death occurs when someone else dies due to the negligence or gross negligence of a responsible party. Negligent conduct leads to many wrongful deaths but there are also cases where intentional acts can also lead to a wrongful death. The difference between a negligent act and an intentional one is intent. Wherein a negligent act that leads to a wrongful death is due to carelessness or recklessness, an intentional act that leads to a wrongful death is purposeful. Similarly, a wrongful act, which denotes an action of carelessness or an error, and a willful act, can also lead to a wrongful death. Having a wrongful death lawyer to handle all of the aspects of your case can put you in a good position to get the best results possible for your wrongful death suit.

How Hard Is It to Prove Wrongful Death?

Proof of negligence for your claim can be challenging for most people. Having a wrongful death attorney handle every aspect of your wrongful death claim, including investigating the circumstances of your loved one’s accident, can give you a big advantage when it comes to proving negligence. When filing a wrongful death lawsuit, evidence is critical to proving a negligent act caused your loved one’s accident. Evidence can differ depending on the type of accident that your loved one was killed in. These are some common types of accidents that wrongful death claims typically originate from:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Bicycle and pedestrian accidents
• Premises liability accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Workplace accidents

Circumstances may vary from case to case, depending on the accident. For example, the evidence needed in a wrongful death suit involving a car accident is different than the evidence needed in a premises liability accident. However, an experienced wrongful death attorney understands the case at hand and can work alongside you, gathering evidence and investigating leads to ensure you have all the proof needed to get the most out of a wrongful death claim settlement. In many situations, the evidence required to prove negligence in wrongful death cases is hard and indisputable. For example, video evidence of a slip and fall accident that clearly shows a lack of safety on the premises and negligence on the part of a property owner can be critical in getting the most financial compensation possible for your case. Aside from video evidence, photographs, audio recordings, police reports, accident reports, eyewitness accounts, and expert witness testimonies can be utilized to build up the strength of your case. The insurance companies tasked with handling a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the responsible parties will often conduct their own investigations to attempt to minimize the amount of compensation they give you.

Having one of our wrongful death attorneys representing you from start to finish can protect you from unfair treatment and can put pressure on the insurance company to give you a fair settlement offer. Contact our law office today for more legal advice on how you should proceed forward with your potential case.

How Much is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit Worth?

There are various factors that can end up determining just how much your lawsuit can end up getting you. In general, the amount of compensation you can recover is dependent on whetheryou can prove the extent of your damages after you prove negligence. Understanding which damages you can claim in your wrongful death lawsuit is important as you move forward with your claim.

Lost wages

One of the biggest obstacles a surviving spouse or surviving family member can face after unexpectedly losing a loved one to a wrongful death accident is dealing with finances. In many wrongful death cases, the loved one that died was the primary earner in the family. This means that the surviving spouse and other family members have suddenly lost their means to make ends meet. Depending on how dependent you and your family were on your deceased loved one, you may be entitled to enough compensation to alleviate your situation. In many cases, the determination for compensation you can be awarded for lost wages can be determined by age and ability to work. A personal injury attorney considers all these factors and argues them in your favor to get you the best possible results for your case. A wrongful death claim can help you recover damages for lost income that you have sustained and will sustain in the future due to the death of your loved one. Let a wrongful death attorney handle your case to help you recover the damages you deserve.

Medical expenses

If you file a wrongful death claim, you may want to seek out damages for any medical expenses that you have incurred. Not all deaths in wrongful death claims end suddenly. Sometimes, long periods at hospitals and persistent care are needed to help your loved one stay alive or be comfortable. This medical care can be expensive, depending on the treatment needed. If your loved one needed medical care prior to the death, you can seek damages for medical costs that now belong to you. Let a wrongful death attorney from our law office help you file a claim today.

Burial expenses

While you grieve for the loss of your loved one, you may overlook just how costly a funeral or burial may be. From arranging flowers, buying a plot, getting a casket, and more, funerals can be incredibly expensive at a time that you do not need any more trouble. A wrongful death attorney can work to ensure you are properly compensated for any funeral costs or expenses you have incurred following your loved one’s wrongful death. We empathize with you during these difficult times and stop at nothing to ensure you receive proper closure and justice for the loss you have endured.

Mental anguish

Along with the economic consequences of losing a loved one to an accident, mental and emotional consequences may occur as well. Losing someone you love can be one of the toughest and most life-changing occurrences in your life. The tragedy and fallout of the death of a loved one can weigh on you heavily for the rest of your life. In the immediate aftermath, you may become depressed and mentally distressed that you have lost your loved one. While no amount of compensation will ever bring your loved one back, seeking damages for mental anguish, emotional pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and more can be a good way to get some closure to your situation and help you make a more positive recovery. Successfully claiming emotional damage requires a lot of hard work and a qualified attorney that understands what kind of stress you are going through. Wrongful death claims that seek emotional damages are often met with resistance. We can fight for you and get you the best outcome possible for your claim.

Punitive damages

In some cases, punitive damage may be awarded to surviving members of a decedent’s estate. Punitive damage is levied by the court whenever they want to make an example out of the responsible parties. Successfully getting these damages can increase your compensation by a significant amount, depending on the circumstances of your case. While rare, a wrongful death lawyer can assist you with any questions you have about these damages and whether or not you may be eligible to receive them for your case.

How Do I Choose a Wrongful Death Lawyer?

There really is no true consolation after losing a loved one because of someone’s negligent or reckless behavior. You may be angry for a long time. You may be sad for a long time. No matter what emotions you feel during these difficult moments in your life, filing a wrongful death claim with the help of a wrongful death lawyer can go a long way towards providing you with the justice and closure you need to move on with your life. At our law firm, we understand just how emotionally taxing dealing with the loss of a loved one can be. We want to ensure you that we are on your side every step of the way during these tough times. You should not have to suffer the consequences of another person’s negligent actions. Let us handle every aspect of your case today so you can focus your precious energy on the things that matter the most. We can help you get back compensation for all of the damages that have occurred as a result of your loved one dying wrongfully. Contact our legal team today by calling 713-489-7360 to see how we can help you moving forward.